We began with a simple belief, that everyone deserves a chance. To learn. To grow. To become. Years later, that belief still guides us, one life at a time.
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Every organisation has a first day. Ours was in 1998. As Anubhav NGO starts its blog, I'm glad to write the first one, and I wanted to begin where everything else began.
Where it all started
In 1998, Dr. Shyama Chona and I started Anubhav NGO. Dr. Chona, a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, has spent her life reimagining education for every child, not just the privileged. I count myself lucky to have begun this journey beside her.
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We started with an evening class at DPS R.K. Puram, where Dr. Chona served as Principal. The school opened its doors to children from the slum clusters around it, and Mr. Ramesh Suri, Chairman of Subros, generously gave a bus so that the children could come. That gesture meant a great deal to us. It showed that this was never one person's dream. A community was ready to stand behind these children, if only someone asked.
An equal start for slum children in Delhi
Children from about 22 slum clusters around R.K. Puram received free books, tuition and uniforms. We wanted them to sit beside any paying child in that school as an equal. I have always believed that a child notices very quickly whether she is being treated as a guest or as one of the class. We wanted every child to feel that she belonged.
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In those early days, the children performed a play called Aakhir Kyu, conceived by Dr. Chona. It reached the residence of the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I think of it often, because it showed what these children could do when someone gave them a stage.
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Today, more than 10,000 children have been part of the work of Anubhav NGO, across 22 slum clusters in Delhi.
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Our journey is now reaching beyond Delhi. Anubhav NGO has begun working in districts across Uttar Pradesh, extending its efforts to reach more children and women with opportunities to learn, grow and become self-reliant. As we look ahead, we aim to expand our work pan-India, bringing the same commitment to inclusive growth and empowerment to communities across the country.
Women who build their own livelihoods
As the years passed, education became only one part of what we did. Anubhav NGO works in education, women's empowerment, skill development and hygiene, because I have always felt they cannot be separated. A child's world is shaped by the women around her, and when a woman can earn for herself, the future of her whole family changes.
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That is why skill development for women has always sat beside our classrooms. Women train with us in tailoring and sewing, with machine training and guidance on starting their own work. They learn beauty and wellness skills, and they join our digital literacy classes. More than 10,000 women have trained across all our programmes. We believe a woman should earn through her own skill and never have to depend on charity.
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Out of this work grew Project Hunar, our social enterprise, where trained women make tailored, crochet and Madhubani products. Our in-house masterji guides production, and he mentors every woman to do her best work. Our Madhubani collection is developed under Anuradha Jha, a disciple of Padma Shri awardee Sita Devi. Businesses can order from just 25 pieces, and every order goes towards the livelihood of the woman who made it.
Looking after the health of the whole community
Good health should not be something only a few can reach. Our health camps are open to everyone in the communities we work with. We hold medical and eye check-up camps, distribute necessary items like spectacles free of cost, and organise mammography camps for women. Doctors lead nutrition awareness camps for families. In schools, #PadsForDignity brings sanitary pads and honest conversations about menstrual health to girls, so that no girl has to feel uneasy about something so natural and has access to a dignified menstrual cycle.
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We also want the children we work with to grow up confident in a world that runs on screens. In today's digital age, being comfortable with technology is part of being ready, for school, for work and for everyday life. Our digital literacy classes help children feel at ease with a computer, so that it becomes a tool they can use with confidence and never something to be afraid of.
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Our food, blanket and ration drives continue alongside all of this, supporting families who need it most.
That is why skill development for women has always sat beside our classrooms. Women train with us in tailoring and sewing, with machine training and guidance on starting their own work. They learn beauty and wellness skills, and they join our digital literacy classes. More than 10,000 women have trained across all our programmes. We believe a woman should earn through her own skill and never have to depend on charity.
Out of this work grew Project Hunar, our social enterprise, where trained women make tailored, crochet and Madhubani products. Our in-house masterji guides production, and he mentors every woman to do her best work. Our Madhubani collection is developed under Anuradha Jha, a disciple of Padma Shri awardee Sita Devi. Businesses can order from just 25 pieces, and every order goes towards the livelihood of the woman who made it.
My personal learning
If there is one thing I would tell anyone starting this kind of work, it is that a child's postal code should not decide her future. Everything we do at Anubhav NGO is built on that belief, and on the principle that a woman deserves to earn through her own skill.Type your paragraph here
I am grateful to everyone who has walked with us, from our teachers and volunteers to the women and children who trusted us. This blog is a place for us to share what we are doing and what we are learning, and I hope you will read along. Mrs. Barkha Singh, Co-Founder and President, Anubhav NGO
Frequently asked questions
What does Anubhav NGO do in Delhi?
 Anubhav NGO works with children and women in 22 slum clusters in Delhi. Our work covers education, skill development for women, health camps, menstrual hygiene, nutrition awareness and community drives.
Can I donate to Anubhav NGO and get a tax benefit?
Yes. Anubhav NGO is 80G tax exempt, so eligible donations come with documentation.
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What is Project Hunar?
Project Hunar is our social enterprise, where trained women make tailored, crochet and Madhubani products. Businesses can place custom orders from 25 pieces.
How can I volunteer with Anubhav NGO?
Write to us at Contact@anubhavngo.in
